Page 102 - Winter 2020

ZIA PARK
Story by Michael Cusortelli • Photos by Coady Photography
Namehimastreaker NM Cup Champ. (RG1)
First Moonflash
First To Flash
Nagano Moon
Dont Looke Ethel
Genuine Strawfly
Minnie Coup
NO MIRES A LA LUNA
Sergio Becerra Jr. rode No Mires A La Luna to a neck victory in the November 9, $30,000 Namehimastreaker New Mexico Cup Championship (RG1) for state-bred Quarter Horses at Zia Park.
Racing for owners David G. Valdez and Byron Woodard, No Mires A La Luna went 440 yards in :22.088. Fred Danley prepped the 4-year-old gelded son of First Moonflash.
No Mires A La Luna earned the $17,280 winner’s share of the purse from his second career stakes win. The gelding was bred by Byron Woodard. His sire, First Moonflash, was a multiple Grade 1-winning son of champion First To Flash and the 2009 AQHA champion aged stallion. Racing from 2007-09, First Moonflash banked $969,828 from 25 starts, and his 10 graded stakes wins included the 2008 and ’09 Championship at Sunland Park (G1).
First Moonflash has sired the earners of more than $20.4 million from eight crops, including Champions Handsome Jack Flash, Foxy Moonflash, and Flash And Roll, and Grade 1 winners Too Flash For You and
Ryansmanonthemoon. A half-brother to four stakes winners, including graded stakes win- ners Dash Ta Moon and Moonifisant, the stallion died from complications from laminitis in May 2019.
No Mires A La Luna’s dam, Dont Looke Ethel, is a winning daughter of the Strawfly Special stallion Genuine Strawfly. The geld- ing has earned $448,431 from 19 outs, and
has three wins include a neck victory in last year’s 400-yard, $198,000 Zia Derby (RG2)
at Ruidoso Downs. His 2-year-old record included a third-place finish, three-quarters of a length behind Apocalyptical Jess, in the 2018 All American Futurity (G1), Quarter Horse racing’s richest and most prestigious race.
Jess A Satin Flash, Marcus Medallion, CD Mamas Boy, Magnifico Dragon, Daddys Wine, Freedom Flash, Rime Chimes, Finnley, and Meleros Dash completed the order of finish.
A 7-year-old First Moonflash gelding owned by Bertha S. Irigoyen and a $60,000 yearling purchase at the 2014 New Mexico-Bred Sale, Jess A Satin Flash banked the $5,760 runner-up
share of the purse. Jess A Satin Flash has won 10 of 41 races and has earned $250,332, and his two graded stakes victories include the September 6, $75,000 First Moonflash Maturity (RG2) at Albuquerque Downs.
Marcus Medallion races for Jaime G. Aldavaz Sr. A 7-year-old gelded son of Jesse James Jr, Marcus Medallion has banked $300,298 from 25 outs, and his six wins include last year’s Zia Handicap (RG2)
at Ruidoso Downs and First Moonflash Maturity (R).
$5,240 runner-up share of the New Mexico Cup Distaff Stakes purse pushed her earnings to $256,352.
Diamond And A Half is a 4-year-old daughter of the 2009 AQHA Champion Aged Stallion First Moonflash racing for Antonio Gomez. The mare has banked $124,028 from 16 outs, and her five wins include a nose victory in the 400-yard, $50,000 Balloon City Stakes at Albuquerque Downs on August 15.
New Mexico Cup Distaff Stakes (R)
Dash For Famous
Dash Ta Fame
Born To This Land
Julia James
Jesse James Jr
Maggies Miracle Lx
FAMOUS JULIA
Famous Julia led at every call en route to a 1 1/4-length win in the November 9, 350-yard New Mexico Cup Distaff Stakes (R) for state- bred fillies and mares at Zia Park.
Trained by Rene Saucedo for owner Bertha S. Irigoyen, Famous Julia stopped the timer in :17.603 while earning a 97 speed index and her first stakes victory. Alejandro Medellin rode the 5-year-old daughter of Dash For Famous.
Famous Julia was bred by Urbano Cervantes, and she brought a two-race win streak into the Distaff Stakes. The mare’s sire, Dash For Famous, is an unraced 13-year-old son of Dash Ta Fame. Famous Julia is out of Julia James, an 11-year-old daughter of the Mr Jess Perry stallion Jesse James Jr.
Famous Julia’s second dam, the winning Dean Miracle mare Maggies Miracle LX,
was a finalist in the 2003 New Mexico State Fair Senorita Futurity (RG3) at Albuquerque Downs. Raced exclusively in New Mexico, the mare has won seven of 25 starts, including
five of 12 at the 350-yard distance, and the $15,720 winner’s share of the 27,000 New Mexico Cup Distaff Stakes purse increased her bankroll to $92,301, of which $61,078 has been pocketed at the 350 trip.
Irigoyen claimed Famous Julia from Cervantes for $6,250 at Albuquerque Downs on June 30, 2019. The mare’s win streak includes a one-length victory in a 350-
yard starter allowance-optional claiming ($12,500) dash at Albuquerque Downs on September 11.
Hollywoodcrown finished second and was followed by 9-5 favorite Diamond And A Half, Wahene Version, Frost Dalena, Woodys Copy Cat, Sixie Won, Direct Deposit FS, Chicks Baby Suds, and Quemados Royal Moon.
Hollywoodcrown is a homebred multiple graded stakes placed 5-year-old daughter
of the Heza Fast Man stallion Heza Motor Scooter owned by Fred Danley. An $8,000 claimer during her 2-year-old campaign, the brown mare has won six of 33 races, and the
100 New Mexico Horse Breeder